There are no current plans to bring the VG to the UK due to the large investment needed to reengineer the car for right-hand drive markets, but a Kia source did not rule this out in the future.

“Kia is keen to be in all market segments, but we’re not planning to bring it to the UK yet,” said the source. “But never say never. If the brand becomes more established and we think we can sell it in the volumes needed for the cost of the right-hand drive conversion, then we will have another look.”

Instead the source said the VG offered a glimpse into what the next-generation Kia Magentis will look like when it is launched in 2011.

“We want Kia to be a design-led brand and, although the VG is larger than the Magentis, it shows where we want to take the brand in the future,” said the source.